About Us
Advocating Change
Empowering
Community
Driven by compassion
Vision
A just and inclusive society where every marginalized community is empowered, their rights protected, and their well-being upheld through equitable policies and systemic change.
A World of Change
Mission
We are committed to advancing social justice by:
- Conducting data-driven research and advocacy to influence inclusive policies.
- Strengthening NGOs, community leaders, and activists through capacity building, mentorship, and resource sharing.
- Driving systemic change by engaging key stakeholders in sustainable policy development.
Fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among NGOs, institutions, and experts to amplify impact.
- Championing the rights and well-being of marginalized communities through inclusive and equitable initiatives
A 17- Years Journey
From COMINGO to ACE
- HINDRAF Rally becomes a turning point.
- COMINGO formed on 10 December 2007.
- Coalition meets PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
- Proposal submitted for Independent Task Force.
- Government introduces several community uplift measures.
- Pakatan Harapan wins GE14
- ILTIZAM-25 outlines 25 promises.
- COMINGO rebrands to i-25.
- Coalition monitors commitments and policy delivery.
- 7 April 2025: ACE officially registered.
- 16 organisations come together under ACE.
- ACE becomes a unified voice for empowerment, systemic reform, and advocacy.
Introduction
ACE
ACE (Association for Advocacy & Community Empowerment) is a coalition of 16 organisations working together to advance the rights and well-being of Malaysian Indian communities. We connect grassroots experience with policy advocacy, using data, research and community voices to push for fairer systems and long-term solutions. By strengthening our member organisations and building strategic partnerships, ACE aims to create a more just, inclusive and hopeful future for all.
Pasupathi Sithamparam
Chairman
Association for Advocacy and Community Empowerment (ACE)
Chairman's Message
Why ACE?
For more than three decades, I have been actively involved in community empowerment and social development work. My journey began as a volunteer with CHILD, followed by my role as one of the founders of the Tamil Foundation, President of the Educational Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF), and later, the initiator of the MySkills Foundation.
Through these years of engagement, one critical gap became increasingly clear: the lack of meaningful collaboration among non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working within the same community. Despite shared goals and overlapping beneficiaries, NGOs often operated in silos, limiting their collective impact.
I strongly believe that one of the most important ways for a community to reclaim its dignity and self-worth is to liberate itself from long-term dependence on government handouts and charitable aid, and instead build sustainable, community-driven solutions.
Read Full Message
Historically, the absence of a community-based central funding mechanism meant that hundreds of grassroots NGOs depended heavily on government allocations. During the tenure of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, this funding was largely channelled through SEDIC, and subsequently through MITRA.
Over time, MITRA shifted its funding approach away from community-based NGOs and towards implementation through government agencies. It is widely acknowledged that such a shift, while policy-driven, does not necessarily empower the community directly, as it places transformation efforts within government machinery rather than community ownership. This is a political decision, and I do not wish to comment further on its merits or limitations.
The reality, however, is that insufficient and inconsistent funding has significantly constrained the ability of many NGOs to scale, innovate, and fully realise their potential, causing setbacks to otherwise impactful community programmes.
Recognising these challenges, sixteen active NGOs came together with a shared conviction: collaboration, coordination, and resource-sharing are the way forward. In community work, there should be no competition among NGOs – the only true competition is against poverty, marginalisation, and social exclusion.
From this collective resolve, the Association for Advocacy and Community Empowerment (ACE) was formed.
ACE aims to bring together NGOs that are passionate, credible, and committed to uplifting the community through structured, sustainable, and outcome-driven initiatives. Our long-term objective is to professionalise and corporatise NGO administration, implement measurable impact frameworks, and track outcomes at every stage of programme delivery-ensuring accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
As Henry Ford aptly said:
“Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; and working together is success.”
Let us work together-for dignity, empowerment, and lasting community transformation.
Celebrating our incredible volunteers.
Our Leaders
The People Behind the Mission
Mr. Pasupathi Sithamparam
Chairman
Mr. S. P. Nathan
Deputy Chairman
Mr. A. Ravendiran Arjunan
Secretary
Ms. Poongulali Veeran
Asst. Secretary
Mr. Gunasekaran Karapaya
Treasurer
Dato’ Saravanan M. Sinapan
Committee Member
Dr. Vengkata Prathap Simanchalam
Committee Member
Mr. Gunasegaran Shanmugam
Committee Member
Mr. Parthiban Ramachandran
Committee Member
Dr. S. Silvam Sellappan
Auditor
Mr. Mahandran Govindaraj
Auditor
Mr. Gunasegaran Kandaswamy
Executive Director
Driven by compassion
Making a Difference Together
Together. Stronger.
Member Organisations
Advocacy for Change
